Adjustable scraper blade for roadgrading equipment



V. SCHIAVI May 1 l, 1965 ADJUSTABLE SCRAPER BLADE FOR ROAD-GRADING EQUIPMENT Filed July 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I z'naerai- Jakahra;

w. P \N L m\\ \w ADJUSTABLE SCRAPER BLADE FOR ROAD-GRADING EQUIPMENT Filed Ju ly 9, 1963 V. SCHlAVl May 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 752626225 ,fz'kz'argl United States Patent 3,182,410 ADJUSTABLE SCRAPER BLADE FOR ROAD- GRADING EQUIPMENT Vincent Schiavi, P.0. Box 1087, Wilmington 99, Del. Filed July 9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,617 6 Claims. (Cl. 37179) The instant invention relates to street and roadbuilding machinery and more particularly to an adjustable grading blade or scraper for the power or bulldozer-type of such machinery or equipment.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a blade or scraper of the aforementioned character having means whereby its utility may be materially increased by the provision of readily manipulatable components resulting in angular adjustments of the scraping or cutting edge of the blade; thus increasing its usefulness to include pitched, crown and, in some instances, parabolic grading, in addition to conventional fiat grading.

Yet another aim is the fabrication of a blade or scraper of the type indicated, which may be employed on all standard motorized graders or similar road-building machinery; which can readily be adjusted while in operative position on the motorized grader or bulldozer; which is versatile in use; which is reinforced and rugged to withstand heavy stresses and strains to which such a blade or scraper is normally subjected.

The above and other aims and objects will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter appearing when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing forming a part hereof and showing a preferred embodiment of the invention and to which attention is now directed and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a scraper or grader blade in which the two-part adjustable lower cutting or scraping portion of the blade is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the lower cutting or scraping portions of the blade adjusted to an angular relationship with the longitudinal axis thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of one outer end portion of the blade or scraper.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through the entire blade and an adjusting screw taken on line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the pivotal connection between the adjusting screw and the adjustgrble cutting or scraping edge looking to the left in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a guiding and stabilizing unit for the movable edge section of the blade during adjustment thereof, taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the guide rollers of the unit shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a pivot pin for each adjustable cutting or scraping edge, taken on line 9Q of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of supporting means for a gauging attachment at each outer end of the blade and taken on line 1010 of FIG. 3.

In Patent No. 2,467,157 issued to me on April 12, 1949, I have described various types of gradings .and grading machines; this patent being directed to a gauge attachment for a scraper blade for grading equipment; other patents issued to me, namely, Nos. 2,510,523, dated June 6, 1950, and 2,748,508, dated June 5, 1956, show various attachments for such blades-in each patent re- 3,182,41d Patented May 11, 1965 ferred to the blade bears the reference numeral 5 on the drawing. The instant invention is directed to means for enlarging the utility of the devices described in the aforementioned patents by increasing the range of usefulness of blade 5, per se.

Turning to the instant drawings, the blade or scraper is also designated as 5 and is mounted on powered roadgrading equipment as described in aforementioned Patent No. 2,467,157. Each blade comprises a continuous, stationary, rigid, upper portion or section 10 extending from end to end and a two-part adjustable lower portion comprising identical sections 11 and 11a, each centrally pivoted to upper section 10 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Upper section 10 includes a continuous, longitudinallyextending metal member 12 having a front concave face 13 and a rear convex face 14; a lower generally concavoconvex member 15, broadly similar to member 12, has its upper half secured to rear convex face 14 of the latter in abutting overlapping relationship, see FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. Concave face of member 15 is designated as 16, convex face 17, and it will be noted that a departure is made from a true concavo-convex shape of member 15, by extending the lower non-abutting portion 18 thereof vertically downward. A continuous longitudinal weld 19 unites the two metal members 12 and 15. A series of substantially uniformly-spaced, vertical, metal reinforcing ribs 20 are edge-welded to the rear convex faces 14 and 17 of members 12 and 15, respectively, said reinforcing ribs each having a rounded free outer edge 21 and a downwardly projecting unattached end 22, as best seen in FIG. 5. A number of intermediate metal angle bars 23 extend horizontally between pairs of reinforcing ribs 20, each bar has one upper edge 23:; welded to convex surface 14 of member 12 at 24; a lower edge 23b welded to nonabutting portion 18 of member 15 at 24a and angularly disposed walls 23c and 23d comprising the bar 23 being welded to a reinforcing rib 20 at 25 and 26, respectively.

As previously mentioned the lower or adjustable part of scraper 5 comprises two similar halves 11 and 11a centrally pivoted to upper stationary section 10 and a description of one will sufiice for both. Looking at FIGS. 5 and 7, it will be observed that each half comprises a longitudinally-extending metal plate 32, the upper half 33 of which extends vertically into abutting sliding relationship with the inner face of portion 18 of plate 15; lower half 34 of plate 32 being of concavo-convex shape. A longitudinal concave-convex metal plate 36 has its upper half in abutting relationship with the rear face of lower half 34 of plate 32 and is rigidly secured to the latter by a line of welding 37. Finally, the upper horizontal part of a concavo-convex metal blade cutting edge 38 is secured to the concave face of plate 36 by a plurality of spaced bolt and nut connections 39 whereby said cutting or scraping edge 38 may be removed and replaced, when desired.

The means for adjusting each of the similar lower halves 11 and 11a of the scraper 5, comprises a hollow cylindrical housing 40 which extends Vertically through an opening 41 in stationary longitudinal blade member 12 and is welded thereto at 42.. Viewing FIG. 5, it will be seen that the housing 49 projects above convex face 14 of blade member 12 and downwardly and forwardly of face 13 thereof. A concentric cylindrical sleeve or bushing 43 is fixed to the inner wall of housing 40, said bushing terminating in an upper inwardly projecting thickened horizontal flange 44 having a central opening 45. A vertical screw 46, of less diameter than last-mentioned opening has an apertured head 47 of reduced diameter and extends above housing 40 through opening 45, said screw having an integral intermediate annular bearo ing 48 restin on stationary horizontal flange 44 for rotation thereon. An apertured closure 49, through which head 47 passes, closes housing 4%, said closure being removably secured to the latter by a plurality of spaced threaded fasteners 50. Reference numeral 51 designates a vertically movable tubular member, concentric with sleeve 43 and in bearing engagement therewith, tubular member 51 having a thickened sleeve-like head 52, internally threaded at 53 in threaded engagement with crew 46, horizontal flange 44 constituting an upper limit stop for the movable tubular member. An angularly disposed plate 54 is welded to and closes the bottom of the latter. A small plate 54a is welded to the inner face of portion 33 of plate 32. A downwardly protruding web 55 is edge welded to the angular face of closure 54, centrally thereof, said web terminating in an enlarged apertured bearing 56. Numerals 57-57a designate a pair of similar apertured shaft supports, secured as by welding or the like, to plate 54a, said supports being in spaced relation on either side of bearing 56see FIG. 6. A horizontal stub shaft 58 passes through the aperture in bearing 56 and the apertures in supports 57 and 57a; said shaft being fixed inthe latter apertures and in pivotal engagement with'bearing 56.

For reinforcing and guiding each of lower scraper halves 11 and Ma, a plurality of units 69 are provided, there being a pair for each half. Each unit comprises a verticalbearing plate 61 having an upper portion of a fiat face 61a thereof welded to the outer face of vertical section 18'of member 15FIG. 7the unwelded portion 63 projecting downwardly in spaced relationship and to the rear of plate 36. A pair of similar spaced, verticallyextending apertured L-shaped mounts are shown at 64- 64(1, each mount having its lower horizontal wing 65 edge-welded to convex face of plate 36. Additionally, each mount has a horizontally positioned stablizing wing 66 or 66a Welded thereto and to plate 36. Similar upper and lower spaced horizontal stub shafts 6745751 project through the apertures in the mounts and are fixed therein in any convenient manner. Each shaft 67 and 67a has a roller 68 or 68a journalled for rotation thereon in fixed spaced relationship intermediate L-shaped mounts 64-6 iaFIG. 8, saidrollers being in rolling contact with bearing plate 61.

Turning to FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, it will be noted that the inner end of member 18 is provided with an opening 70 having a short, rear-wa-rdly-projecting bearing sleeve 71 welded therein. Similarly movable plate portion 33 has an opening 72 in which. a forwardly projecting bearing sleeve .73 ismounted and welded therein. The sleeves 71' and '73 are aligned and carry a headed bolt 75 threaded at 76 to receive a nut '77, this construction constituting a pivot or hinge about which a lower scraper half ill-11a may move.

Finally, the outer terminal portion of convex surface 14 of metal member 12 is provided with a mount" or bracket 80 for a road gauge, as described in my Fatent No. 2,467,157 aforementioned and as shown in FIG. 2

thereof.

It will now be seen that the angular relationship of a by inserting a rod such as 95 in aperturedhead of a screw 46 to turn the'later to move cutting or scraping edge 38 angula-rly with respect to the stationary part 1%) of' the scraper;

The structures shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and. 7 provide adequatereinforcement for the pressure and lower half 11 or llaor both' of scraper 5 may be adjusted d ment thereof either from the position of FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 or vice versa. 1

Accordingly, it is submitted that the aims and objects have been attained; also that various changes may be made as will occur to those skilled in the art. It is contemplated to cover all such and to be limited in this respect only as may be necessary by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A scraper blade for a road-grading machine comprising an elongated horizontally-extending stationary upper blade section including an upper metal blade element and a lower blade element coextensive therewith and rigidly secured thereto,'a plurality of lower blade sections coextensive with said stationary. section, each of said blade sections pivoted to the upper section centrally thereof, means for moving each of said lower blade sections about its pivot, said means including a substantially vertically extending housing secured to and passing through said upper blade section and terminating forwardly thereof,.an adjustable connector in said housing and means forpivotally attaching said connector to a lower blade section.

2. The structure of claim 1, said adjustable connector comprising a movable sleeve in said housing and a rotatable screw threadedly engaging said sleeve.

3. A scraper blade for a road-grading machine, said blade in operative position being substantially vertical and movable longitudinally over a'road surface to be gra'dedand comprising a transversely-extending stationary upper blade section'having a pair of spaced pivot pins substantially centrally thereof, a pairof transversely-extending similar lower blade sections together coextensive in length with said upper section, each lower blade section having a bottom scraping edgeand an inner edge generally normal to said scraping edge, each lower blade section being hinged adjacent its inner edge on one of said pivot pins, adjustable supports carried by the stationary upper blade section outwardly of-said pivot pins, one of said supports being connectedto each lower blade section for hingedly swinging same on its pivot pin to adjust the scraping edge of said last-mentioned lower blade section angularly with respect to said road surface.

4. The structure of claim 3, each ofsaid adjustable supports comprising a vertical housing, an adjustable connector axially movable within said housing, said connector being pivoted to one of said lower blade sections.

5. A scraper blade for a road-grading machine comprising an elongated, horizontally-extending stationary larly with respect to the longitudinal axis. ofsaid stat-ion- 55 ary upper section, said stationary upper blade section 'including an upper metal blade element and a lower blade element coextensive therewith and having itsupper half in abutting overlapping relationship to the rear face of said upper blade element, said lower blade element being rigidly secured to said upper blade elemenasaid means for selectively moving each of said lower blade sections comprising a substantially. vertical housing secured'to and passing through said upper; bladesection forwardly thereof, a sleeve in said housing, arotatable screw for movingsaid sleeve in said housing, and meansconnect-f ing said movable sleeve to'a lowerblade section.

'6. The structure of claim 5, and means for guidingsaid lower blade sections .in their movementi comprising spaced strain put on the scraper in use and for guiding each movable portion of theblade during adjustable move-v bearing plates rigidly secured to saidjlower blade ele- V ment of said stationary bladesection, and roller'means carried by each lower; blade section for rolling; contact with one of said bearing plates; a

rlRefmnces v sp s 7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Finks 37-155 X Anderson 37143 Stayton.

Bird 37144 Clinkscales 37'143 Smith 37-108 831,023 8/38 France.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, WILLIAM A. SMITH, III,

Examiners. 

3. A SCRAPER BLADE FOR A ROAD-GRADING MACHINE, SAID BLADE IN OPERATIVE POSITION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AND MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OVER A ROAD SURFACE TO BE GRADED AND COMPRISING A TRANSVERSELY-EXTENDING STATIONARY UPPER BLADE SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PITO PINS SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY THEREOF, A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY-EXTENDING SIMILAR LOW BLADE SECTIONS TOGETHER CONEXTENSIVE SIMILAR LOWER BLADE SECTIONS TOGETHER COEXTENSIVE IN LENGTH WITH SAID UPPER SECTION, EACH LOWER EDGE GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID SPACING EDGE, EACH LOWER BLADE SECTION BEING HINGED ADJACENT ITS INNER EDGE ON ONE OF SAID PIVOT PINS, ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS CARRIED BY THE STATIONARY UPPER BLADE SECTION OUTWARDLY OF SAID PIVOT PINS, ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS BEING CONNECTED TO EACH LOWER BLADE SECTION FOR HINGEDLY SWINGING SAME ON ITS PIVOT PIN TO ADJUST THE SCRAPPING EDGE OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED LOWER BLADE SECTION ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ROAD SURFACE. 